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WEEK SIX

Day Five

DAILY SCRIPTURE

John 18:36

LEADER GUIDE QUESTIONS

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Know: Read John 18

Note: Mark keywords, including pronouns and phrases. (truth, king, kingdom, sin)

Ask questions: (Use tools such as interlinear bibles to search the original meaning of words- free tool here) For example:

• Who?

• What?

• When?

• Where?

• Why?

• How does Jesus interact with Judas, Peter, Pilate, and the High Priests?

Observation:

What: What does today’s study reveal to you about the nature of God? What truth do I need to apply to my life today?

“Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” John 18:6

The Story of Redemption is coming to a close in a place that mirrors where it began- in a garden.

In the Garden of Eden (which means pleasure), Adam failed to guard the world he was given by obeying the serpent, who would bring with him death and destruction. They were created to enjoy a union and relationship with God, but they traded that union for a lie, so all men were born into a world of sin and death.

In the Garden of Gethsemane (which means Olive Press), the second Adam would grant permission to those whose hearts were given over to the lies of the serpent to be taken prisoner to fulfill the ancient promise that the seed of the woman “shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Mankind was created to enjoy God. To find pleasure in Him. Olives represented “peace and victory.” Jesus would be handed over to be killed by the religious leaders, pressed and beaten, and stripped of his flesh to restore God's desire for mankind. God wanted His kids back, and They, together, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, would agree to spare no expense to get them back. “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Hebrews 12:2

John did not highlight the prayer of Jesus in the Garden when He sweated drops of blood. Instead, He showed us the willingness of Jesus to allow himself to be handed over.

Jesus spoke His name, “I AM He.” when the soldiers came for Him.

In John 8, a discussion arose between Jesus and some believing Jews concerning something Jesus had said:

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’“ John 8:31-33

He is talking to a people who believed, yet they were looking for a way to kill him because they could not understand His message of spiritual slavery and freedom. They took Jesus’ comments about slavery literally. They were not slaves, they argued, because they were Abraham’s descendants. The argument continues until they are so angry they begin formulating thoughts to kill him and then verbally accuse Him of being a Samaritan and demon-possessed. Jesus confronts them, baring their motives and nullifying their claim as Abraham’s descendants because they were not like him in faith. He completely exasperates and angers them, solidifying their plots of murder by saying, “Before Abraham was born, I Am!”

Whenever the people of that day read the Old Testament, they read God’s promises to Abraham and David about an offspring who would someday come to bless the whole world. When the early disciples embarked on the mission to tell the world that Jesus was the promised King and Messiah, they declared what they had been waiting for had happened. He was the Messiah and the King they had been waiting for, and they crucified him. This made the people very angry.

In Romans 10:9-10, Paul said that to be saved, you must “believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord.” and believe “God raised Him from the dead.” This is the basic Gospel message connected to the two covenants Jesus fulfilled. Jesus fulfilled the covenant God made with David (Jesus is Lord) and the covenant with Abraham (raised from the dead as echoed Abraham laid his son down).

Jesus’ claim to “be” before Abraham, in John 8, was akin to claiming to be Messiah, and in so doing, He was making himself equal with God.

John’s account of Jesus was written to declare that Jesus was, in fact, God. He was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and David. (*see note)

Jesus declared himself with the exact phrase as the one God used to reveal Himself to Moses at the burning bush-” I Am.” He claimed that nothing was made without him. Jesus was there when the universe was created. He was the one who split the Red Sea. He was the Passover Lamb, the High priest in Numbers, the rock that brought forth water in Deuteronomy, and the Commander of the Lord’s army in Judges.

With every I AM statement, Jesus said of himself:

1. “I Am the bread of life.” (John 6:35). Where I am, there is no hunger. I was the manna that fell from Heaven.

2.  “I Am the light of the world.” (John 8:12). In me, darkness flees. I was there when the light was created.

3. “I Am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) When we are sealed in Him, we are safe. I was there when Adam was formed from the earth.

4. “I Am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25). Where there is life, there is no death. I was the breath that filled Adam’s lungs.

5. “I Am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11,14) Where there is love, there is no fear. I was the One who called Adam to repentance.

6. “I Am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6). The Father is how God feels about us. The Son is what God says about us. The Spirit is How God works within us. I created mankind for relationships.

7. “I Am the true vine.” (John 15:1,5) We are one with Him just as a vine is one with the main branch. My side will be split like Adam’s to receive his bride. You are my bride.
   

Note: John was a missionary in Asia Minor. Gnosticism had taken over one-third of the church, so John’s letters were written to correct this false doctrine which taught that Jesus came only in Spirit and not in body. If he did not come in body, there would be no blood and no forgiveness of sin. This was why John wrote that Jesus was God, He came in Human flesh and He died to forgive sin.